Sunday
Basketball
Movie Review
New era in Lakeland hoops
Pet Funerals
Disney’s ‘Frozen’ a warm, fun treat
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Honoring our four-legged friends
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December 1, 2013
Weather Partly cloudy today. High 36. Low 27. Temperatures warm up after Monday. Page B5
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Kendallville, Indiana
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Legislature fuels highway budget increase GOOD MORNING Former Indiana first lady Judy O’Bannon remarries at 78 CORYDON (AP) — Former Indiana first lady Judy O’Bannon has remarried more than a decade after losing her husband, then-Gov. Frank O’Bannon, to a stroke. O’Bannon wed retired Indianapolis attorney Donald Willsey in a Friday ceremony held in a former log barn at the O’Bannon family’s farm in Corydon some 25 miles west of Louisville, Ky. O’Bannon tells The Indianapolis Star the ceremony was “an acknowledgement of our families coming together.” She wore wear a vintage dress her mother made and a garnet-studded wedding ring that cost just $18 at an antique mall. The 78-year-old O’Bannon and 84-year-old Willsey were fixed up by mutual friends two years ago, a year after Willsey’s first wife died of cancer. Gov. Frank O’Bannon died in 2003 following 47 years of marriage to Judy O’Bannon.
How county highway departments plan to use additional money BY JENNIFER DECKER jdecker@kpcmedia.com
The Indiana Legislature’s increase of infrastructure funding by $200 million per year has been welcomed by DeKalb, LaGrange, Noble and Steuben county highway superintendents, who will receive a combined $1.7 million more in the first year of the law. The additional road and infrastructure appropriations came when the Legislature passed the
state’s $30 billion budget. A total of $400 million reportedly will be set aside over the next two years for future transportation needs. The money comes from Motor Vehicle Highway funds derived from gas taxes collected from motorists. Here is how each county will spend its additional allocation:
DeKalb County DeKalb County Highway Department Superintendent Eric Patton will receive some $300,000-$400,000 extra from the Legislature for each of the next few years. “What we’ll try to do is
increase our chip and seal,” he said about the 730 miles roads his department maintains — including 360 miles of gravel roads. In particular, he said, DeKalb roads such as C.R. 19 north of S.R. 8 and C.R. 56 are in need of attention. “We’ll try to increase our road striping,” he said. Still, receiving any extra funding unexpectedly helps, he said. “Something people don’t realize is the cuts to highways,” Patton said. He figured he’s set on road salt, depending on Mother Nature’s ways this year, with a surplus of 600 tons mixed with sand left over from last year and the chance to
Carl Casper’s 50th Anniversary Charity Auto Show
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Inside • Classified.............................................. D4-D5 Life................................................................ C1 Obituaries.....................................................A4 Opinion .........................................................A6 Business ......................................................B5 Sports.................................................... B1-B4 Weather.......................................................B5 Vol. 104 No. 330
LaGrange County Jeff Brill, LaGrange County Highway Department superintendent, said he has no major plans on how to spend an added $600,000 from the Legislature. “It will be used for maintenance on asphalt,” he said. “We have no big plans.” That maintenance includes 800 miles of LaGrange roads — 300 miles of which are gravel. He said for the most part, the toughest roads to maintain are asphalt because of the excess wear and tear caused by horses and buggies SEE HIGHWAY, PAGE A8
Eight die in crash Falling police helicopter mars Scottish holiday
Obama does his part to support small businesses WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama is doing his part to support small businesses. Obama and daughters Malia and Sasha dropped in Saturday at Washington’s Politics and Prose bookstore and purchased what he said was a “long list” of books that included “The Kite Runner,” ”Harold and the Purple Crayon,” and “The Sports Gene.” The president said he bought a reader for every age, from 5 to 52 — his age. He paid by credit card. The total was not announced. Obama sent a tweet earlier Saturday about the importance of supporting small businesses. The Saturday after Thanksgiving has become known as “Small Business Saturday.”
order 1,000 more tons, if needed.
MATT GETTS
“Mountain Man” from the hit reality television series “Duck Dynasty” poses with fans during Carl Casper’s 50th Anniversary Charity Auto
wrestling legend Ted DiBiase and Casper. “We’re very happy,” said Jeff Cook of Auburn, the president of Hoosier Charities and a celebrity himself as a Monster Truck driver. “We’re looking good. We’ve had a good turnout.” DiBiase, Casper, Cook and SpongeBob Squarepants will be at the National Military History Center for today’s conclusion to the event. Cook said it is easy to put in the work for a charity event that is going to help veterans and their families. “We want to give back as much as we can,” Cook said. “We owe it to all our vets.” Casper’s Batmobile from the movie “Batman Returns” was a
GLASGOW, Scotland (AP) — Scotland’s official holiday was transformed into a grim day of mourning Saturday as emergency crews searched the wreckage of a riverside pub smashed by a falling police helicopter. At least eight people died and more than a dozen remained hospitalized with serious injuries. The Clutha, a popular Glasgow pub, was filled with revelers enjoying a local ska band on Friday night, the eve of St. Andrew’s Day, named for the patron saint of Scotland and which is normally a celebration of Scottish culture and heritage. Instead, Scotland’s leader ordered flags at government buildings to be lowered to half-staff after the tragedy. “This is a black day for Glasgow and Scotland, but it’s also St. Andrew’s Day, and it’s a day we can take pride and courage in how we respond to adversity and tragedy,” Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond said. There may be more bad news. Police said a rescue and recovery operation is ongoing and that it
SEE CHARITY, PAGE A8
SEE CRASH, PAGE A8
Show Saturday at the National Military History Center.
For veterans and their families Auburn charity show benefits area soldiers BY MATT GETTS mgetts@kpcmedia.com
AUBURN — For one fan, it was all about the Batmobile. For another, it was all about Mountain Man from the hit reality television show “Duck Dynasty.” But for the organizers of Carl Casper’s 50th Anniversary Charity Auto Show, it was all about military veterans and their families. Hoosier Charities put on the two-day event that concludes from noon to 5 p.m. today at the
National Military History Center, just west of Interstate 69 exit 326 with an entrance off DeKalb C.R. 11-A. The proceeds from the event will be distributed through the Association of Churches of Allen County and Fort Wayne. According to association board president Dave Boyer II, by working with chaplains from area military units, the organization is able to provide housing and bill payment assistance, as well as helping with employment issues for returning veterans throughout northeastern Indiana. “If there’s a need, we’re going to meet it,” Boyer said. “Any need they have.” Saturday’s first day drew a steady crowd of spectators, highlighted by celebrity appearances from Mountain Man, pro
Guardian booming, looking for workers Ligonier factory produces ‘smart’ windshields BY BOB BUTTGEN bbuttgen@kpcmedia.com
LIGONIER — They can’t build autos, trucks and sport-utililty vehicles without using windshields, and no one knows that better than the 460 employees at the Guardian Industries factory just west of Ligonier on U.S. 6. Guardian is believed to be Ligonier’s second-largest employer. The sprawling plant
produces tens of thousands of pieces of custom glass each year for a variety of manufacturers, including General Motors, BMW and Volkswagen. Business is so good these days that the company, which has been in Ligonier for nearly 20 years, is in need of bodies to fill job openings, according to Kathy Davis, human relations manager for the Ligonier factory. “We currently employ roughly 360 full-time employees, five part-time employees and more than 100 temporary employees, many of whom will be offered full-time employment at the end of their contracts,” said Davis. SEE GUARDIAN, PAGE A8
BOB BUTTGEN
Guardian Automotive expanded its factory in Ligonier last year, adding 30,000 square feet of production space to the plant on U.S. 6 on the city’s west side.